MASSIVE CMT waiting time

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Old-Salt

For the last few months I've always had my mind set on going in as CMT(Combat Medical Technician). I finish college around June time (I'm finishing my Public Services course) and was hoping to go straight in.

I passed my BARB test, literacy and numeracy test with flying colours. The sergeant then proceeded to show me what jobs I'm eligible for and I was in for a nasty surprise for combat medical technician, it says on the sheet;

Wow, October thats a while. It MASSIVELY giants the other jobs waiting lists. Most jobs with waiting lists are late January, February, no later than April then BOOM, October for CMT. I couldn't imagine it being so popular. The sergeant told me it could even be early next year to start training as a CMT. He then briskly handed me some engineering books and I think he was slyly trying to hint to me to reconsider down that path.

Can anybody tell me how solid these stats are and why it is giants every other waiting list massively? I'm more interested in the medical area than others, and my qualifications are pretty decent and I've been tempted to perhaps go for ODP (Operating Department Practitioner). You get paid to go to uni, good promotional aspects, good wage. But at the end of the day I think I need more action than that job. But then, I barely know much at all about either job.

The Sergeant emphasized to me that I can remain as CMT, but with such a MASSIVE waiting list I'm not too sure. Greatly confused at the moment.

Old-Salt

Is he a royal engineer by any chance? If you have your heart set on CMT then a little wait is nothing, it will fly by. Engineers and CMT's are completely diffent trades so make sure you choose one u will like and stick one

Old-Salt

if you really want it mate wait i passed selelction in sept and my start date is june, i started the application about may/june 08 i'm waiting for cmt cos its what i wanna do my rec sgt has tried getting me to change my mind but i have held firm. but its up to you at the end of the day good luck with the rest of the application

Old-Salt

Is he a royal engineer by any chance? If you have your heart set on CMT then a little wait is nothing, it will fly by. Engineers and CMT's are completely diffent trades so make sure you choose one u will like and stick one

I have a pre-selection day next week. The Army are giving me a bursary of Â£2,000 for finishing college! So I have to pass this to show I'm worthy of their money pretty much. And apparently the Sergeant down there who I'll be speaking with is an Engineer of some sort so I imagine he may be a bit biased too, haha..

But I'm 20 year olds, if I wait till next year (which is unimaginable at the moment) I'll be 21 and to be honest I feel like I'm rotting away here on civi street. I couldn't bare working my crappy part-time job and bumming around for another year killing time. So much so that I'd be willing to take an alternative job. Like I said the ODP job looks real interesting, gets you good qualifications, good wage etc but then will it feed my ambition? I need some action! Hmm.. it's a tricky one.

Honestly it's baffling why there is such a long waiting list though. If there was a way in earlier I'd jump at the chance.

Old-Salt

Old-Salt

Is he a royal engineer by any chance? If you have your heart set on CMT then a little wait is nothing, it will fly by. Engineers and CMT's are completely diffent trades so make sure you choose one u will like and stick one

I have a pre-selection day next week. The Army are giving me a bursary of Â£2,000 for finishing college! So I have to pass this to show I'm worthy of their money pretty much. And apparently the Sergeant down there who I'll be speaking with is an Engineer of some sort so I imagine he may be a bit biased too, haha..

But I'm 20 year olds, if I wait till next year (which is unimaginable at the moment) I'll be 21 and to be honest I feel like I'm rotting away here on civi street. I couldn't bare working my crappy part-time job and bumming around for another year killing time. So much so that I'd be willing to take an alternative job. Like I said the ODP job looks real interesting, gets you good qualifications, good wage etc but then will it feed my ambition? I need some action! Hmm.. it's a tricky one.

Honestly it's baffling why there is such a long waiting list though. If there was a way in earlier I'd jump at the chance.

Well you do get good qualifications out of both and the pay is basically the same (i think). Even if you dont like your job just motivate yourself by thinking you will be a CMT in a few months time and i will be saving people lives. You never know though you might get put in suddenly, so just wait it out if you really want CMT. And the CO's tend to be quite biased. Learn abit more about each job then decide.

War Hero

Is he a royal engineer by any chance? If you have your heart set on CMT then a little wait is nothing, it will fly by. Engineers and CMT's are completely diffent trades so make sure you choose one u will like and stick one

I have a pre-selection day next week. The Army are giving me a bursary of Â£2,000 for finishing college! So I have to pass this to show I'm worthy of their money pretty much. And apparently the Sergeant down there who I'll be speaking with is an Engineer of some sort so I imagine he may be a bit biased too, haha..

But I'm 20 year olds, if I wait till next year (which is unimaginable at the moment) I'll be 21 and to be honest I feel like I'm rotting away here on civi street. I couldn't bare working my crappy part-time job and bumming around for another year killing time. So much so that I'd be willing to take an alternative job. Like I said the ODP job looks real interesting, gets you good qualifications, good wage etc but then will it feed my ambition? I need some action! Hmm.. it's a tricky one.

Honestly it's baffling why there is such a long waiting list though. If there was a way in earlier I'd jump at the chance.

Old-Salt

I'll be seeing my careers adviser again next week. I'll ask him if the waiting time is definite, if so I think I'd like to go ODP. I'm interested in both equally to be honest, I just lack knowledge in both professions so I can't really make an intelligent judgment, I can only assume.

But then, I hope ODP take on fairly soon. I know less common jobs like these only take on rarely apparently? I don't suppose anybody knows?

Forgive me, but once I get an idea in my head I can't rest, and I get all excited like a kid at christmas. Then it all comes crashing down after hearing the waiting times. I'm just awfully confused at the moment.

Forgive me, but once I get an idea in my head I can't rest, and I get all excited like a kid at christmas. Then it all comes crashing down after hearing the waiting times. I'm just awfully confused at the moment.

War Hero

you think you've got it bad waiting til october. I have a possible wait of between 12 and 18 months for my trade.
Focus on the positives, if CMT is definitely what you want to do. You have more time to prepare for basic fitness wise, you have more time to arrange a possible visit to speak to a CMT (even if it's at a TA Centre - they do the same job after all!) Use it to your advantage. Time is something not everyone gets - a mate of mine was eleven weeks from start of application to going to basic training!!!!!!

Old-Salt

you think you've got it bad waiting til october. I have a possible wait of between 12 and 18 months for my trade.
Focus on the positives, if CMT is definitely what you want to do. You have more time to prepare for basic fitness wise, you have more time to arrange a possible visit to speak to a CMT (even if it's at a TA Centre - they do the same job after all!) Use it to your advantage. Time is something not everyone gets - a mate of mine was eleven weeks from start of application to going to basic training!!!!!!

Yeah it doesn't feel as bad now, now that I've had a good think about it all. ODP, on the other hand though could leave me waiting till later 2010. I don't think I'm that patient. But this October for CMT isn't too bad.

Clanker

If I remember correctly there are 2 ODP courses run a year at Birmingham Uni. You need good relevant quals including A levels. A copy of your recruiters and office manager reports are faxed off to Aldershot to be assessed. If you are found suitable after passing ADSC, you then go on a board to see if you suitable to go on the course. There are only five slots on a course (if I remember right) and there is quite a lot of competition for these places, not just from recruits but also from re-trades.

You are massively over qualified to be a CMT in my opinion but whatever decision you make will be for a long time so choose something that you would be happy doing. You won't have to wait until next year to be a CMT, the recruiter is bull sh*tting, but there is a long wait. There is actually an ODP board being sat about now choosing the people for the next course in September. Obviously before attending that the successful candidates have to pass phase 1 training. Sounds like your recruiter can't be bothered to find out the information for you and is just going for the easy option and recommending something he knows about (his own cap badge?) Some recruiters are better than others.

War Hero

you think you've got it bad waiting til october. I have a possible wait of between 12 and 18 months for my trade.
Focus on the positives, if CMT is definitely what you want to do. You have more time to prepare for basic fitness wise, you have more time to arrange a possible visit to speak to a CMT (even if it's at a TA Centre - they do the same job after all!) Use it to your advantage. Time is something not everyone gets - a mate of mine was eleven weeks from start of application to going to basic training!!!!!!

Yeah it doesn't feel as bad now, now that I've had a good think about it all. ODP, on the other hand though could leave me waiting till later 2010. I don't think I'm that patient. But this October for CMT isn't too bad.

Clinical Physiology. According to all the info I've got, there is one selction board a year which is in November. I don't finish Uni until May so therefore I couldnt go to selection last year. Bit of a pain but I'm sure I'll get over it!